Mayo senator in plea to speed up decisions on planning applications

A Mayo Oireachtas member has appealed to the Minister for Local Government to notify county managers in regard to how planning staff should operate.

Senator Paddy Burke elaborated: "Usually, when a planning application goes in and the 60 days are up, the planning officer will send out for further information.

"That should not be happening in this day and age.

"People who lodge a planning application should know within a couple of days whether they have made a full application.

"If further information is required to make the application legitimate, for want of another word, applicants should know that within a few days.

"It is not acceptable to have applicants waiting two months and then getting a notification that their application is not complete and additional information is required.

"In larger counties like Mayo, there is a huge difference between the different municipal districts.

"Municipal districts should be able to make recommendations when the county development plan is being compiled.

"When a county council meets, the process is very unwieldy, with a lot of debate and different projects to discuss.

"In Mayo, there are issues to do with marine areas, inland areas, lakes and so forth.

"The different municipal districts could add to the development of the county plan in a way that is better for local communities."